Imagine orphans with nowhere to turn. Jardin de la maison des orphelins apprentis d’Auteuil offered hope. This garden connects to a place with a long history of helping young people.
The Jardin de la maison des orphelins apprentis d’Auteuil owes its existence to the nearby foundation. The foundation began in 1866. Abbé Roussel started it to help orphans. He saw many struggling children in Paris. The Abbé wanted to provide them with care and education.
In 1866, the Abbé Roussel took in six children. He rented a house for them on Rue Jean de la Fontaine. It was in the Auteuil neighborhood. The children received food, shelter and education. They learned to read and write. They prepared for their first communion. Roussel found them apprenticeships.
After the war in 1871, things got worse. It was hard to find apprenticeships for the boys. Roussel opened his own workshops. The Orphelins Apprentis d’Auteuil started then. They became known for printing. They published a weekly newspaper. Roussel relied on donations to keep going.
By 1895, 15,000 children had passed through the Abbé’s organization. Abbé Daniel Fontaine took over in 1895. He modernized the institution. A new vocational school replaced the old buildings. They started taking in younger children too. These children were aged two to six. They were called “Petits Jésus”.
Abbé Muffat faced challenges during World War I. The institution was in financial crisis. In 1923, only 170 young people remained.
The archbishop of Paris appointed Father Daniel Brottier in 1923. He saved the Orphelins Apprentis d’Auteuil. He built a chapel dedicated to Sainte Thérèse. She had protected him during the war. The French government recognized the organization in 1929. It became a public service foundation.
Thousands supported the orphans. They came from all backgrounds. When he died in 1936, there were 15 branches. These branches housed 1,400 boys. Pope John Paul II beatified Father Brottier in 1984. His tomb is in the Sainte-Thérèse chapel.
The work continued through World War II. In 1940, they sheltered 2,150 orphans. Father Marc Duval expanded the foundation. This was necessary to house more orphans.
In 1973, Jean Gosselin became the first lay director. He focused on professionalizing the staff. They began to accept young people with social difficulties. The orphanages became “Maisons”. This emphasized education and training.
The Jardin de la maison des orphelins apprentis d’Auteuil was created in 1985. The garden provides access to the Sainte-Thérèse chapel.
In 2023 to 2024, they celebrated 100 years with the Spiritans. Today, Apprentis d’Auteuil continues to help young people. The foundation offers many services. These include education, training and support for families. The Jardin de la maison des orphelins apprentis d’Auteuil serves as a reminder. It reminds us of the long history of helping young people. It started with Abbé Roussel. It continues today.